Mailing-box.



W. J. HALL.

MAILING BOX.

v APPLICATION FILED 0CT.23. 1914. 1,158,0W. Patend Oct. 26,191).

FIEr.1- B

sw g A WILLIAM J. HALL, OF CINCINNAII, 0H10, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE HALL MAILING BOX COM1ANY,

TIO1\T DE 0310.

Application fi1ed October 23, 1914.

Do it known that I, WiLLIAM J. HALL, residing at Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful mprovements in Mailing-Boxes, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description, attention being called to the drawing which accompanies this application and foi1ns a part thereof.

This invention concorns boxes formed ont 01 blanks Which contain the sides of the boxes and are out to a shape so that When such a blank is folded in a certain designated manner, the sides of the box may be arranged to engage each other in proper relative position to -form the box and to close the same. The usual material for such blanks is heavy paper, card-board, or pasteboard.

The principal object of this invention is to produce a box of this character Which,'

after haVnp; been formed out of theblank theref0r, retains its shape and the sides of which maintain their respective relative positions and also their box-closing engagement with each other without the aid of additional sustaining means such as Wrappinp; paper, tw1ne and deV1ces mvolvmg the use of an adhesive substance like so-called stickers. This feature renders this box a very desirable mediurn for shipping pur poses in any manner as for instance through the mails and more particularly through the parcels post service thereof, inasmuch as the arrangement is such that inspection et the contents is rendered possible without im pairinp; the seourity of the box.

Another object of the invention is to construct these boxes in a manner that the blanks required therefor may be produced with the least possible waste of material.

The invention consists of certain features and constructions as hereinafter described and claimed and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1. shows at recluced scale a plane view of a blank shaped in a certain manner so that, When folded up as intended, a box as contemplated by my invention may be produced. Fig. 9. is a perspective view and shows the b]ank and its parts while being bent and folded up for the purpose of forming the box. Fig. 3. is a cross-section between the ends of the completed box. Fig.

4:. is a vertical longitudinal section of the Specification of Letters Patent.

OF CINCINNAT, 0H10, A CORPORA MAILING-BOX.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

Serial No. 868,328.

completed box. Fig. 5. in a part of the longitudinal section, illustrates a modified construction of the box.

In the drawing; letter A indicates the bottom of the box.

Lette1s B B indicate the contiguous sides thereof. The top is formed by two flaps CC which are overlapped for the purpose, 7 one cont3guous to each one of the sides and locking, these locking-fiapg are notched as shown at dd and at ee respectively, and their inter-engagement is eflected in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, and while sides BB are being bent up to position. Before this is donc a fiap F at one. end of botto1n A is bent up so as to be inside of fiaps E E after they are engaged with each other. The object and function of this fiap Will be presently explained. After the box so formed, has been packed and is ready for closing, flaps CC are first pressed clown and lapped, one over the other, to form the top. A closing flap forniing an extension of bottom A is now wrapped entirely around the box and in a manner that part G of it, lies against one end of the closed box, and covers the interlocked fiaps DD, so as to hold them in fiat. Another part H, continuous With part G covers the overlapped flaps CC Which form the top and holds them clown fiat. Another continuons part K lies against the other end of the olosed box and covers the interlocked flaps EE at this end and holds them in fiat. This closing flap after having been passed around the box so as to cover the parts mentioned and in the manner stated, is held in place by means of a locking tongue L at its end and of which it forms a continuous part. For snob purpose this tongue is pushed in between the engaged fiaps E-E and the upstanding flap F as shown in Fig. 4:. It is held in position between these parts by fric- These locking-fiaps f0rm centime tional resistance due to close contact, also by clamping action upon said tongue, for it is to be remembered in this connection, that at that time the box is packed, and the contents thereof by bearing against fiap F, hold it and press it more or less ontwardly and against the inter-hooked locking-flaps EE. Irrespective ofany snob effect and action of the contents of the box, there is nothing which would favor disengagement of this tongne becanse such disengagement presumes a bending of the material of the tongue a-t points which constantly shift as the tongue is drawn out. The material of the tongue however, resists snch bending by tending to retain its shape. Nevertheless the engagement whereby this tongue is so held is not permanentiy fixed and readily yieids if positive action is applied when aecess to the contents is desired.

The-blank shown in Fig. 1 is of a shape which, bv reason of the narrow but long extension I-I, K, L does not favor economical blanking of material and also limits the capa :ity of'the pressby reducing the nnmber of blanks which may be ont out at a time. To; obviate this, this piece may be ont ont separtely and pasted to the main blank. The additional material, to the extent used w0nld serve to strengthen the main blank and preferably that part thereof which is to foim the bottomof the box. Fig. 5 illustrates this part of the construction, letter a indicating the material used to make the connection, said material being pasted to bottom A.

As Will be seen a box so constructed may be quiokly ormed from the blank and after -closed is seeurely held so, within the purport of the invention, without the use of anv auxihary fastening means.

Having describedmy invention, I daim as new:

1. A mailing box formed of a onepiece blank Which comprises a bottom, side-walls contiguous thereto, end-fiaps, one at each of the upright edges of the side-wzdls,means to secure opposite flaps at eaeh end to each other to hold the side-walls in box-orming position, a top-forming flap contiguous to each sidewall, said fiaps being adapted to over-lap each other to form the top, a flap contiguous to one end of the bottom and adapted to occupy a position between the contents of the box and the interlocked fiaps at the adjacent end of the box and close against said flaps, a closing flap which extends from the other end of the bottom and is adapted to ]ap over the adjacent end of the box, thence over the top of the box and also over the other end, and a locking tongue on this ciosing flap adapted to occupy a position between the intcriocked flaps at the end of the box 1ast mentioned and the upstanding flap which is inside of these interlocked fiaps and next to the contents of the box and whereby this locking tongue is closely confined in position.

2. A mailing box formed of a blank comprising a, bottom, side-wails integral with the bottom, a pair of interlocking flaps at each end o'E the box respectively integral with the side-Wails, an upstanding flap integrai with one end of the bottom and adapted to occupy a position next to and in contact with the contents of the box, and an elongated flap at the other end of the bottom and constitnting a ciosurc for the box, said fiap being extended upwardly contiguous with the correiated end, across the box top, and downwardiy contiguons With the othcr end, the end of the flap being bent and upwardly inserted between the upstanding flap and the adjacent pair of interlocking flaps in Which position it is held between the two and by the pressure of the contents against the npstanding flap.

3. A mailing box formed of a onepiecc blank comprising a bottom, side-nalls integral With the bottom, a pair of [laps respectively integral with the side-walls, overlapping above the contents of the box When the latter is closed, an upstanding fiap integral with one end of the bottom and adapted to be maintained in upright position by the contents of the box, a pair of interlocking fiaps respectively integral with the side-walls and exteriorly adjacent to the upstanding fiaps, and a flap attached to the blank at the other end of the bottom and constituting a closure for the box, said fiap extending npwardly adjacent to the correlated end passing across the top of the box and passing downwardly adjacent to the other end of the box, and finally having its extremity inserted between the upstanding flap and the adjacent intcrlocking flaps in Which position it is he]d by the close contact between them.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix 1ny signature this 22nd day of ()ctober, 1914-, in the presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM J. HALL.

VVitnesses:

J. G. DE Fossnr, C. SPENGEL.

Copies oi;this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). G. 

